Tube end closure

Abstract

According to one aspect, a non-roll end sleeve is configured to be disposed on a seamless cylindrical paper tube, the non-roll sleeve having a rectangular cross-section perpendicular to a central axis of the cylindrical paper tube when disposed on the cylindrical paper tube. According to another aspect, a container includes a seamless paper tube having at least one end provided with a shape in cross-section generally having N sides, where N is an integer selected from 3 to 8, which at least one end is closed by flaps of material between openings cut into the at least one end that have been folded inwardly and secured in place to form an end closure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shipping container comprising a seamless paper tube having an end with N sides in cross-section, wherein N is an integer selected from 3 to 8, and wherein the end having N sides in cross-section is closable by folding flaps of material between openings cut into the end having N sides in cross-section inwardly and securing the flaps in place to form an end closure. 
     
     
         2 . The shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said flaps are configured to overlap each other when folded inwardly. 
     
     
         3 . The shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said flaps are configured to have abutting edges when folded inwardly. 
     
     
         4 . The shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a central portion with a circular cross-section, and only one end of the tube has N sides in cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a central portion with a circular cross-section, and both ends of the tube have N sides in cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube has N sides in cross-section at any point along a central axis of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The shipping container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a non-roll extension configured to protrude from the end closure. 
     
     
         8 . The shipping container according to  claim 7 , wherein the non-roll extension is a separate strip of material configured to be inserted into the end closure. 
     
     
         9 . The shipping container according to  claim 7 , wherein the non-roll extension is a portion of a flap of material configured to be folded inwardly to form the end closure. 
     
     
         10 . The shipping container according to  claim 7 , wherein the non-roll extension is flexible. 
     
     
         11 . The shipping container according to  claim 7 , wherein an end of the non-roll extension is configured to be affixed to a side of the tube inward of the end closure. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 11 , wherein the non-roll extension includes a fold and is triangular in cross-section when affixed to a side of the tube inward of the end closure. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 placing matter into a shipping container according to  claim 1 ;   folding the flaps inwardly; and   securing the flaps in place to form the end closure.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the flaps are secured in place using adhesive tape.